National MDT Community Champions Tournament at Excelsior Rotterdam is a wrap!

National MDT Community Champions Tournament at Excelsior Rotterdam is a wrap!

On the 5th of June, EFDN organised the MDT Community Champions Tournament in collaboration with the Eredivisie CV at Excelsior’s Van Donge en De Roo Stadium.

Yesterday, the MDT Community Champions tournament brought together enthusiastic youth from across the country for a final event at Excelsior in Rotterdam. These youngsters followed a 16-week during educational programme at their local football club. This programme called MDT, focusses on self-development and work-orentation.

The day began with the arrival in official team busses. The participants were welcomed with a foreword by the renowned Ali Boussaboun, who set the stage for a day filled with activities.

To kick things off, the youth engaged in a dynamic warm-up session, preparing them for the 1st round of matches that followed. The competition was fierce but friendly, as teams battled it out on the field, showcasing their skills and teamwork.

Participants followed a workshop on leadership by Robert Maaskant. The session was enlightening, providing valuable insights into what it takes to be a leader both on and off the field.

There was also an inspiring Q&A session with Lorenzo Davids. His words resonated deeply with the young audience, offering motivation and encouragement to pursue their dreams and never give up, even when things get rough in life!

Another highlight of the event was the football clinic led by FC De Rebellen, featuring stars like Kika van Es and Royston Drenthe. The clinic was a fun but challenging opportunity for the youth to learn from the best, enhancing their skills and battle against other MDT participants from all across the Netherlands.

In between the games and workshops, participants went to the eSports tent, where they could battle it out online in FC24.

Lastly, there was a boxing clinic led by the legendary Mike Passenier. The session introduced the youth to the basics of boxing, emphasizing discipline, technique, and the importance of mental and physical fitness.

The day concluded with a prize ceremony, celebrating the efforts and achievements of all participants.

MDT Community Champions

MDT Community Champions leverages the popularity of professional football in the Netherlands and the social power of the sport to offer a unique MDT program. Over the course of 16 weeks, young people embark on a journey to discover the best version of themselves through the power of football. They do this by participating in various workshops, engaging in sports together, and organizing activities in their neighborhoods. As Community Champions, the youth discover (new) talents within themselves, meet new people, and give back to their communities through the project. Since its inception, over 1,500 young people have participated, and they rate the project with an average score of 8!